Free His Cure For Magic (Book 2) by M.R. Forbes Page A

had them arrested, or integrated loyalists into their ranks to learn what they knew. He would have found the Liar weeks earlier, and he might even still be alive today."
    Wilem didn't really know that much about what had happened in Elling, other than the Liar leading the rebellion there to a short-lived victory. He was surprised to hear Kelkin suggest that the Overlord had made a mistake. "So we're going to stay at this Waverly's. Then what?"
    "Then nothing, boy. We'll eat and drink, tell tales and make conversation. Most importantly, we'll listen. If any word comes in of the Liar and his Whore, I'll contact Talia and the General."
    "Varrow is a big city. Do you really think sitting in one place will help us find them?"
    "Staying in one place is sure to be more effective that moving about. What if we leave a place right before they enter it? Waverly is a sympathizer. The Liar risked his neck to get into the city, he's going to want something. That means he'll need to talk to other sympathizers, and sooner or later it will trickle down."
    "He could be long gone by then."
    "Yes, he could. Did you expect that this would be easy?"
    Wilem didn't say anything else for the rest of the walk. Kelkin had made him feel dumb enough already.

    ###

      They entered Waverly's as father and son. It was Kelkin's idea, and he seemed to delight in Wilem's pale-faced reaction to it. The older Mediator was so much more of a person after escaping from the weight of General Clau's shadow, and while most would have appreciated and enjoyed his relaxed demeanor and boisterous charm, Wilem only found it overwhelming.
    "Ah, thank you, dear," Kelkin said, as Patmos' wife, Urla, dropped a plate of roast hen in front of them both. "Another ale, if you please." He gave her a wide smile while handing her his empty mug.
    "As you wish, my Lord," Urla replied. She took the mug and vanished back into the kitchen.
    Wilem had found Waverly's to be an interesting place. It was one of the largest inns he had every seen, with dozens of long and round tables spread throughout the common room, three separate hearths to warm the entire floor, and an intricate pattern of wooden beams and cross-supports that held up the three levels of rooms above. There was no bar to speak of, and no drink besides water and the dark ale that Kelkin was downing. There was no entertainment either, but that didn't seem to dissuade dozens of lower classed merchants and laborers from making it their roost for the night. They gathered more closely than he would have expected, or had experienced in Edgewater, filling the tables nearest the kitchen first and finding company in both friend and stranger alike.
    "Sympathizers," Kelkin whispered. They sat at the edge of the gathering, close enough not to look out of place, but far enough away to be able to speak privately.
    "All of them?"
    He nodded. "Most like. This is your first time out, boy, and Edgewater is one of the most loyal cities in the Empire. You haven't seen what I've seen. We grow weaker every day, and even more for every day the Liar roams free. He makes them think that they would be better off without him . They call him 'tyrant' and 'murderer', 'cold' and 'evil'. They just don't know the truth. It takes a strong hand to make hard decisions."
    He stopped talking when he saw Urla coming, choosing instead to take a bite of his hen.  
    "You should eat," she said to Wilem. "It looks to me like you could use some more meat on those bones."  
    Wilem gave her a weak smile, and picked up a drumstick to satisfy her. He took a small bite and discovered how much he had missed food made with real herbs and spices.  
    "As I was saying," Kelkin continued. "Look at Clau, or even Talon before he snapped. They've done the work. They've taken responsibility for killing men, women, children. They've made the hard decisions to protect all of us. I'm from Elling. Did you know that?"
    Wilem shook his head. His mouth was full.
    "I was raised on a